Raven's Progressive Matrices Overlapping and Layered Figure Rules Flashcards

In an RPM matrix, three shapes overlap following this rule: the central region (all three overlap) is black, pairwise-only regions are gray, and each shape's exclusive area is white. A fourth shape is added that overlaps only the current central black region. What color is the fourth shape's exclusive non-overlapping area?

Answer: White — exclusive areas of any shape follow the same white rule

The coloring rule assigns white to any area covered by exactly one shape; the fourth shape's exclusive region is covered only by that shape, so it is white.

In an RPM matrix, the overlap between two shapes is always 30% of the smaller shape's area. Shape A has an area of 100 units and shape B has an area of 60 units. How many units of area does their intersection cover?

Answer: 18 units

The intersection equals 30% of the smaller shape's area: 30% x 60 = 18 units.

In an RPM matrix, the 'intersection deletion' rule removes the overlapping area from both shapes, leaving only the exclusive non-overlapping parts. Two identical squares overlap by exactly half their area. What remains after applying the rule?

Answer: Two half-square pieces, each representing the non-overlapping half of each original square

Removing the shared half from each square leaves the non-overlapping half of each, resulting in two rectangular (half-square) pieces.

In an RPM matrix, shapes are layered so that the background (bottommost) shape always has the most sides, and each layer toward the front has fewer sides. The topmost layer is a triangle (3 sides). The layer directly behind it is a square (4 sides). What is the minimum number of sides the next layer behind the square must have?

Answer: 5 sides — each layer toward the back must have more sides than the layer in front of it

The rule states each layer toward the back has more sides than the layer in front; since the square has 4, the layer behind it must have at least 5 sides.

In an RPM matrix, two shapes overlap and the intersection is always shaded with the pattern of the background (rear) shape. A dotted circle is placed in front of a striped square. What pattern fills the intersection region?

Answer: Stripes — the background square's pattern transfers to the overlap

The rule states the intersection inherits the background (rear) shape's pattern; since the striped square is in the back, the intersection shows stripes.

An RPM matrix uses a progressive overlap sequence. In column 1, shape A covers 10% of shape B. In column 2, shape A covers 30% of shape B. In column 3, shape A covers 50% of shape B. Extending this pattern, what percentage of shape B would shape A cover in column 5?

Answer: 90%

The coverage increases by 20 percentage points per column (10%, 30%, 50%, 70%, 90%), so column 5 reaches 90%.

In an RPM matrix, the 'transparent overlay' rule states: wherever a transparent shape is placed over a background, the background pattern shows through completely unaltered. A transparent pentagon is placed over a grid-patterned rectangle. What appears in the overlap region?

Answer: The grid pattern of the rectangle showing through the transparent pentagon

A transparent overlay allows the background to show through completely unaltered, so the grid pattern of the rectangle remains fully visible through the transparent pentagon.